From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 23 January [1890]

My dear Mother;—

George is now very nearly well, & the boy is pretty nearly so, if the weather had not been very rough, in fact quite a gale, they would have gone this morning; they will really be off tomorrow if there is not another gale. Maud & George are very much afraid of boring us, which they have not done in the least, & I also think that they want the change to the Isle of Wight. Gwen has been very well all the time & in capital spirits, she is a jolly little soul, the boy is a nice little chap with a great deal of sense for his age; he is a trifle cross this morning which is a good sign. I have had a very hard month's work, issueing the [illeg] shares & very often running over to Portsmouth, but I have kept very well, except that I have slept rather poorly, but the worst is over & it has been a great success; I have not had a day's leave since Christmas till today, as Mr H. Senior has been ill all the time with exzema, & he is not right yet. I am very sorry to hear that, Hen. has again been poorly & that poor Horace is getting on so slowly, it is wonderful how he keeps up his spirits. I am sorry to say that Aunt Anne is seriously ill, & Sara is very anxious about her, her heart is weak & she has great difficulty in sleeping; she is so old & feeble that I should not be surprised to hear any day that all was over, though Sara does appear to think so, but she feels that it is better so than that she should suffer. It is a happy release for Miss Tollet. As you do not say anything about yourself I hope that you are well. We are all taking quinine to get up our strength if the influenza should come into the house, the gardiner's wife & boy have it now & there is a great deal of it in the neighbourhood. My hand is much better, but not yet quite strong, with all the writing that I have had to do I dont know what I should have done without this machine, which I now like very much, though I still make blunders when I write quickly, as I am doing now. Good bye dear Mother, we both like Maud very much, & find her very pleasant in the house & very considerate.

you affect son | W. E Darwin